| Sunshine 30.08.2015 04:59 |
...Freddie didnt get sick and passed away, how would the world look at Queen at the moment? Fans tend to think Queen would be the same legends as they are today. But is that likely the case? The fact is that Freddie Mercury (and Queen as a whole) onl also y got critical acclaim after he passed away. Before that time, the press really hated them. Also the quality of the Queen catalogue detoriated after 1980, if not earlier. Hot Space, The Works, A Kind Of Magic and The Miracle are not considered to be the best work of the band. It was likely Freddie's illness that made Innuendo a masterpiece. It's fair to say that without Freddie's illness we wouldn't have The Show Must Go On and These Are The Days Of Our Lives. Or the likely not Barcelona album . It's also not a secret that the band didnt like eachother in the 80's. They became close again after knowing about Freddie's illness and wrote and performed better than ever after that. We had to pay an incredible high price for Innuendo and Queen's legacy in losing Freddie, but i can not stop wondering how likely it would be that they kept the momentum. Brian May stated often that Queen would still be together if Freddie was still around, i highly doubt that. Brian May and Roger Taylor hasn't come up with good songs for at least a decade, especially Brian didnt produce a lot. The Cosmos Rocks didn't provide anything memorable. Is John Deacon retired because if Freddie's death or are there other issues? We dont really know. |
| Sebastian 30.08.2015 06:03 |
Sunshine wrote: ...Freddie didnt get sick and passed away, how would the world look at Queen at the moment?For a comparison, see what's going on with contemporaries such as Aerosmith, KISS, ABBA, Eagles and Horslips. So my guess would be: the musical would still exist (but probably under a different name and with Brian's material not being so over-represented), they would tour intermittently, maybe release a thing or two every once in a while, and it wouldn't be too far off to think maybe one of them would've been a judge on 'The Voice' or one of those programmes, just like Tyler was on 'American Idol.' Fred would've probably come out officially and would've had a husband and some kids, probably the same way Elton John did. Also, they would've probably scored a couple of soundtracks. Sunshine wrote: Fans tend to think Queen would be the same legends as they are today. But is that likely the case?In my opinion, yes. Imagine Freddie at the Olympics, for instance, or the jubilee. Marvellous! Sunshine wrote: The fact is that Freddie Mercury (and Queen as a whole) onl also y got critical acclaim after he passed away. Before that time, the press really hated them.That didn't stop them from selling out Wembley and other large venues, so I don't see why that would've stopped them from remaining successful. If anything, having Freddie would've guaranteed far bigger audiences in the long run. Granted, the tribute probably sold more (and had more ratings on telly) than anything Queen would've actually done, but in terms of a large-scale tour, being with Freddie would've meant far more success than Paul or Adam. Sunshine wrote: It's fair to say that without Freddie's illness we wouldn't have The Show Must Go On and These Are The Days Of Our Lives.I agree about 'Show Must Go On' but Roger had written 'Days of Our Lives' about his nostalgia of getting older and seeing his kids growing up. The song would've still existed, but we'd probably just consider it a nice ballad rather than what it means nowadays, and of course the video would've been radically different. On a somewhat related note, I could imagine Freddie being on Twitter and probably having organised some sort of tribute for David Richards in late 2013. Sunshine wrote: Or the likely not Barcelona albumFred had fallen in love with Montserrat's voice long before he found out about his illness. Their meeting had nothing to do with his impending doom (she admitted she didn't know about it until they started recording), so the album would've still existed. Maybe, perhaps, even a follow-up... and/or I can also picture Fred dueting with her before the final of the Champions League 1999 and showing up on a few 'Pavarotti and Friends' events. Sunshine wrote: It's also not a secret that the band didnt like eachother in the 80's.Considering John and Roger were holidaying together and going skiing, etc., I don't really think they didn't like each other. If you mean Fred and Brian... well, that's half of the band, not 'the band.' Sunshine wrote: They became close again after knowing about Freddie's illness and wrote and performed better than ever after that.That's really debatable, in my opinion. Nostalgia aside, is 'Days of Our Lives' really better than, say, 'Drowse'? Nostalgia aside, are Fred's vocals on 'Show Must Go On' really better than the ones on, say, 'Don't Stop Me Now'? Nostalgia aside, is Brian's guitar playing on, say, 'Bijou', really better than, say, 'Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke'? Apples and oranges, of course, but, actually, you can compare apples and oranges, and you'll find similarities and differences between them. I really think 'Innuendo' is a magnificent album. The best thing they did? No, not really. They had a few records which were even better, but which were (unluckily?) not enhanced by the nostalgia goggles. Same for 'Made in Heaven,' which, of course, wouldn't have existed. Sunshine wrote: Brian May stated often that Queen would still be together if Freddie was still around, i highly doubt that.I don't. They probably wouldn't have produced too many hits in the 90's and beyond, they would've probably only showed up at some events such as the jubilee and the Olympics and they would've made the occasional tours adding up to some figure between 200 and 250 concerts since 1991. In other words, it would've probably been exactly the same as what happened, only that there wouldn't have been any collaborations with Paul or an American Idol loser, and Brian's material wouldn't have been so over-represented on the musical, the touring setlists or the compilations. Sunshine wrote: Brian May and Roger Taylor hasn't come up with good songs for at least a decade, especially Brian didnt produce a lot. The Cosmos Rocks didn't provide anything memorable.There are way too many factors involved, but one of them is that Freddie was the band's most prolific songwriter, both in terms of album material and hits (though he'd certainly declined on the latter by the late 80's). With Fred there (and presumably John as well), they would've certainly had a far bigger chance of coming up with really good material (though probably not half as good as the 'Opera' - 'Races' era). Sunshine wrote: Is John Deacon retired because if Freddie's death or are there other issues? We dont really know.He'd actually 'retired' long before Fred died. What he did from 'Miracle' onwards was more of 'temporarily coming out of retirement' than actually still being heavily involved. |
| Sunshine 30.08.2015 07:33 |
Regarding Aerosmith, they still haven't got critical acclaim for their work in the last 45 years, especially not in Europe where the band is seen as either a Stones rip off or a Bon Jovi 2.0. Of course Queen would have gained respect but I don't think they, especially Freddie, would have gotten the full critical acclaim as they have now and how important they were for pop music. The fact they sold out big venues after Freddie's death was because they havent been on tour for more than a decade, of course ticket sales are sky high. But look at Aerosmith, they have been constantly on tour because nobody wants to buy their records anymore and now they have problems selling more than 5.000 tickets per venue. I dont say that would happen to Queen because I think their fanbase is bigger, but selling out multiple Wembleys ais another thing. I meant actually everything they produced after The Game (not the 70's, you were right with your commenst), then Innuendo is an absolute stand out album. Would that have been produced without Freddie's illness? I highly doubt so. Yes i believe Freddie's vocals on The Show Must Go On are better than on A Kind Of Magic or any track from the 80's. The new brotherhood after the devastating news was a major motivator. Freddie indeed saw Montserrat already back in 1983 or so but I believe his knowledge of having HIV was a motivator of doing that project immediately in 1987. It was not only Freddie and Brian that hated eachother for a while, there was also a lot of friction about the musical direction in the 80's. Roger didn't agree on that and i also believe that the relation between Brian and Roger only improved after Freddie's death and cleared things out. I think you are right about Freddie performing at the Olympics and writing film scores or doing all kind of projects. I think their differences and ego's became too big since the 80's and already there showed some cracks. Without Live Aid, Queen would already have went on a break, the same as after the Hot Space Tour. I also believe Freddie would have been able to come up with some good songs here and there but without good imput from the other 3, a good Queen album would have been far away and the chance was that they would have become this Golden Oldies band who played a greatest hits show each night. Money was definately a motivator for Freddie. Yeah you are right about John. Wonder what happened to him. Maybe a psychiatric reason. I hope the best for him. |
| jrd1951 30.08.2015 08:19 |
What a wonderful thought! As I was a fan from 1973,I think that I can comment better than most.Freddie would not have done those big tours again,he regarded them even in the early eighties as a bit of a slog,but I am sure that he would be happy to do big festivals like Rio,maybe even Glastonbury or big shows in new territories like China,Russia or Korea,there would also be a lot of money involved because of sponsorship now. I sure that he would still do albums with Queen,perhaps every couple of years,and definitely expand his solo work like he did with Barcelona,perhaps writing an opera or ballet and getting involved in theatre.He would have been in massive demand as a producer/arranger,no doubt.I can picture him still living at Garden Lodge,nipping out for the opera and mixing with his 'posh' friends! |
| Kuijpy 30.08.2015 11:49 |
I think John Deacon was leaving us in the beginning of the 90ies... And than they will toured sometimes. |
| andyb1968 30.08.2015 13:16 |
Yes John would have left in the 90's, he was struggling with the fame big time ! Freddie was pretty shrewd, followed the trends, so would have kept his solo/band song writing pretty current, they wouldn't have been massive right now, but sell out world tours would have been assured ! As the stones still do ! Fred did say in an interview that he would write and produce more in the future, I could see him working with Glambo , kindred spirit and all that. |
| mooghead 30.08.2015 16:55 |
Looking at the amount of money in touring now, and none in record sales due to people thieving off the internet.. Queen would be out there doing their thing... not like before but still being so much better than everyone else..... |
| The King Of Rhye 31.08.2015 08:53 |
Sunshine wrote: Regarding Aerosmith, they still haven't got critical acclaim for their work in the last 45 years, especially not in Europe where the band is seen as either a Stones rip off or a Bon Jovi 2.0.Err....what now? Uh, maybe it's different because I'm in America, but saying Aerosmith hasnt gotten critical acclaim over the last 45 years (!!) is just wrong, and anyone who thinks of them as "Bon Jovi 2.0" really, really, doesn't know the history of American rock bands... |
| miraclesteinway 31.08.2015 10:25 |
We'd have to look at the kind of things that they might have released if Freddie hadn't become ill. Firstly, I want it all would probably have still been on the album following A Kind Of Magic. Their recording sessions would have been more regular, and The Cross probably wouldn't have existed - since The Cross was essentially Roger's live outlet in the wake of Freddie becoming ill (although I don't know for sure that he wouldn't have formed The Cross). The songs may have been less intro/retrospective. The Show Must Go On possibly wouldn't have been written, Days of Our Lives almost certainly wouldn't have been written - and while it's perhaps easy to say that these songs are by Brian and Roger, respectively, and not necessarily about Freddie becoming sick, they were written in the shadow of his illness (and perhaps other things that were going on). Queen weren't really a band to be particularly profound before 1989, and even The Miracle LP, although it has some moments, is generally light-hearted. I can imagine that through the 1990s, they'd start to incorporate more dance influences in their music. They'd never become a dance act, but I could imagine John and Freddie would have embraced that culture a little bit more. I'm not sure that they'd have any massive hits in the light of the pop culture that has been pervasive through the 1990s (truth be said it was always there), but I'm certain there would be a few classic songs. Live Aid was what turned Queen's career around in the 1980s, and Freddie's album being a commercial flop meant that he was keen to keep Queen going for as long as they felt able to work together. He said as much in the David Wigg Interview of 1985. The Barcelona project would have happened regardless, since Freddie wanted to do that before he knew he was sick, and there may have even been a few live performances with Caballe and Freddie, although I'm totally speculating. I can see Freddie going down the route of exploring classical influences and in fact I believe that the crossover end of the music industry would have had much more credibility and far greater quality had Freddie been around to work in the genre. I'm sure that Freddie might have released a duets album, much like Elton John did in 1994 (perhaps they'd have appeared on each other's albums!), and I can imagine that Queen would work as a live unit on a regular basis until, say, 1996, when they'd calm down. There would be some kind of epic Queen album or tour for Freddie turning 50, and then there would have perhaps been some quietness in the Queen camp around 1998 in terms of live performance, but there may have been a film score or epic song much like Aerosmith's 'I don't wanna miss a thing'. I think they'd have left the Princess Diana tribute single to Elton. I hope. I can imagine that they'd do something for the new millennium, take a break, and then the whole band would have been invited to play for the Queen's jubilee in 2002, and then they'd probably give it another break for a while, and if they felt like it they'd have made a new album. Listening to Cosmos Rocks, although it's really not my favourite album, I can hear in it that it does kind of pick up where Innuendo takes off. I can imagine Freddie singing 'Time to Shine' with his 'Headlong' voice, (I can also imagine him saying, Brian are you sure you want this on the album?), and I think perhaps something like Cosmos Rocks, but higher quality and more unified may have been released in that year. Since Queen have been invited to take part in American Idol and X-Factor, I can imagine Freddie actually taking part in some of these competitions as an adjudicator or advisor, when he felt like it, or as a mentor. I can imagine him, for instance, mentoring Adam Lambert and saying 'OK, now why don't we sing a duet', and I can also imagine him saying 'you're good darling, but you've a long way to go, but then I wasn't brilliant when we started either'. I'm not sure I could picture Freddie doing a 2014-2015 tour. He MAY have done, but there was something about Freddie that makes me think he might have called it a day before now, and done something else. I don't just mean because of that 1986 interview where he says 'You can't run around on stage anymore but you can still write songs' - because I think he was saying that in the full knowledge of his fate - but before then in the early 1980s he'd say things like 'if you think I'll be doing this when I'm 50, forget it!'. He might have worked with someone like Tori Amos, not singing but producing. Who knows? |
| mooghead 31.08.2015 10:40 |
"He might have worked with someone like Tori Amos, not singing but producing" What a bizarre thing to say?! |
| Holly2003 31.08.2015 11:30 |
I believe Fred would have taken up fox hunting and badger baiting, just to annoy Brian. |
| miraclesteinway 31.08.2015 11:37 |
Yeah mooghead I know, I was brainstorming.... |
| cmsdrums 31.08.2015 12:28 |
jrd1951 wrote: He would have been in massive demand as a producer/arranger,no doubt.As long as people didn't judge him on those two disciplines based on Mr Bad Guy that is!!!! |
| Ivo-1976 31.08.2015 13:30 |
In the 80's Queen were quite lazy band with only a few albums with hardly 10 new songs on them. They went for the hits and filled the albums with not-so-good-ones. By 1986 they were fed up with each other and by 1988 Freddie was the main reason to regroup and record The Miracle and Innuendo. Without Freddies disease they woul'd've split up, John would've retired earlier than he did and the other 3 would've had rather unsuccesfull solo careers. At some point they would've done a comeback but i wonder if that would've worked.. |
| CPL593h 31.08.2015 15:24 |
Holly2003 wrote: I believe Fred would have taken up fox hunting and badger baiting, just to annoy Brian.You just made my day! |
| Vocal harmony 02.09.2015 07:05 |
cmsdrums wrote:So true!jrd1951 wrote: He would have been in massive demand as a producer/arranger,no doubt.As long as people didn't judge him on those two disciplines based on Mr Bad Guy that is!!!! I believe that in the 80's as Freddie seemed to become more dominant within the band his short comings as a song writer, arranger and producer became apparent. In many ways it seemed to be Freddie who pushed t them into a more Manstream sounding band killing off some of their uniqueness. Finally proving his inabilities to write and produce to a high standard without the others around him during Mr Bad Guy. |
| Mr Prime Jive 02.09.2015 16:39 |
Freddie and Queen would have participated to the Elton celebration album "Two Rooms" covering their already classic live retake of "Saturday night alright for fighting". |